Short Summary

An Ethiopian delegation, headed by the Vice-President of the Derg, the ruling military government, has held talks on the Somali war with the President of the Malagasy Republic, Mr.

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An Ethiopian delegation, headed by the Vice-President of the Derg, the ruling military government, has held talks on the Somali war with the President of the Malagasy Republic, Mr. Didier Ratsiraka. Mr. Ratsiraka has offered to mediate between the two sides, Ethiopia and Somalia.

SYNOPSIS: The plane carrying the Ethiopians flew into Antananarive, the Madagascar capital, on Monday (16 January).

The leader of the Malagasy People's National Assembly and other officials were at the airport ready to meet the Ethiopians.

The leader of the three-man Ethiopian delegation, Mr. Berhanu Bayih, stepped from the plane first and was greeted by the Malagasy officials. According to Reuters News agency, he is the Ethiopian government's Foreign Affairs expert.

One of his takes on the visit was to pass on a personal message from the Ethiopian President, Lieutenant-Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam, to the Malagasy President, Mr. Didier Ratsiraka. The text of the message was not revealed but Mr. Bayih said he had come to explain the state of the Ethiopian revolution and the problems it was facing. He also paid tribute to the efforts of the Malagasy President, who has offered to mediate in the Ethiopian-Somali conflict, still being waged in the Ogaden region.

After arriving at the airport, the Ethiopian delegation was taken to the Presidential building, where they were received by President Ratsiraka. He has already had talks with the Somali Head of State, General Mohamed Siad Barre.